Mixing machine



Oct. 20, 1925 c. w. HODGSON MIXING MACHINE Filed April 25,

1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIYVENTOR= Cnm. W HODG N Oct. 20, 1925- 0. w. HODGSON MIXING MACHINE Filed April 25,

1924 3.Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 20, 1925. 1,557,839

c. w. HODGSON I MIXING MACHINE Filed April 25, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Famed a. 20, 1925.-

PATENT OFFICE.

CARL W. HODGSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

'- mxmo MACHINE,

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, CARL W; Houesom a citizen of the United States, residing at taken on line 4--4,-Figure 1.

Chicago, in'the county of Cook and'State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mixing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mixing machines particularly adapted though not necessarily limited in its use for mixing concrete, and oneof the objects of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this character in which the materials to be mixed'will be supplied in the proper proportions A further object is to provide an improved machine of this character embodying means for continuously feeding and distributing the mixed material to the roadbed infsuchfla manner that the v line of' work will substantially uniform throughout substantially the'range of operation of the machin A further object is to provide an roved machine of this character which willbe of a comparatively simple, durable pact construction and effective I in operation.

' To the attainment of these ends-and the accomplishment of other new and usefulobjects as will appear, the invention consists in the features of novelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and in which T Figure 1 -is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of a machine of this character constructed in accordance withfthe principles of this invention. v 5

Figure2 is a top plan view astaken on line 22, Figure 1. 1

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 33, Figure 1. a Y

Figure 4 is an irregular sectional view .l igurc 5 is a detail-sectional view taken on line 5-4); Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on line 6G, Figure 3. I I

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral 10 designates a supporting structure whichmaybe of any desired construction and is mounted upon wheels l112. lnterposed between the frame 10 and the wheels 12 is a turn-table 13 of any Application filed April 25, 1924. Serial No. 708,842.

desired configuration by means of which the vehicle may be steered during transportation in any well known and suitable manner (not shown).

A supplemental frame or supporting structure 14 is mounted upon the structure 10 and is preferably pivotally connected thereto by means of a king pin or bolt 15, and a turntable 16 of the ordinary and wellknown construction may be interposedbetween the two so as to. permit the frame 14 to swing readily about the king pin 15 and upon the frame or supporting structure 10. The pivot thus formed is preferably arranged adjacent one end of the supplemental frame 14 and adjacent one end of the supporting structure 10. The other end of the supplemental frame 14 maybe supported in any suitable manner such as by means of angle irons 17- (see particularly Figure 6),

which travel upon suitable rollers 18 mounted upon an are shaped plate 19 carried by the supporting structure 10. The plate 19 may be of any desired length but preferably substantially equal to the length of the axle 20 to which the wheels 11 are connected.

When the supplemental frame 14 is swung about its pivot 15 it will be manifest that it will be guided b the rollers 18. Anysuitable means may e provided for thus swinging the frame 14. A suitable and eflicient means embodies a rack shaped member 21 preferably mounted upon the supporting structure 10. A pinion 22 journaled in a suitable bearing 23 carried by the sup-plemental frame 14 engages the rack 21 and the pinion may be 0 erated by means of a beveled gear 24 which meshes with a beveled gear 25 carried by a shaft, and to which shaft'is connected a crank handle 26, so that by the operation of the handle 26 motion will be imparted to the gear 22 and inasmuch as this gear is carried by the swinging frame 14 and meshes with the rack 21 which is carried by the stationary frame 10, the frame 14 will be swung in one direction or the other according to the direction of rotation of the crank handle 26. V

Carried by the supplemental frame 14 is a mixing chamber or receptacle 27 of any.

forwardly and backwardly during its travelto extend lengthwise thereof are spaced parallel shafts 29-30, journa'led in suitable bearings. shafts 2930 to rotate therewith are a plurality of spirally shaped agitator and conthrough the chamber 27. Motion may be imparted to the shafts 2930 in any desired or suitable manner but preferably from a motor 33 mounted upon a suitable platform 34 carried by the supplemental frame 14. The motor is preferably located adjacent the pivot 15. Operating from the motor shaft is a train of gears designated gener ally by the reference numeral 35 to impart motion to a shaft 36, which latteris journaled in suitable bearings and is provided with a sprocket wheel 37 for rotation therewith. The end of the shaft 29 preferably projects beyond the chamber 27. Connected with this shaft is a sprocket wheel 38 and a sprocket chain 39 passes over the sprockets 37 and 38 for operatively connecting the shaft 36 with the shaft 29. The other end of the shaft29 preferably projects through the other end of the chamber 27 and has connected with it for rotation therewith, a gear 40 which meshes with a gear 41 secured for rotation with the shaft 29, so that when the motor 33 is operated and the shaft 36 is driven, the motion of the shaft 36 will be imparted to the shaft 30 through sprocket wheels 3738 and sprocket chain 39. The

. motion of the shaft'30 will be imparted to the shaft 29 through the medium of the connecting gears 40-41.

Disposed upon the supplemental frame 14 and below the chamber 27 is another mixing chamber 42, which may also be of any desired size, length and configuration. The inner end of the chamber 42 is disposed beneath the outlet opening 28 of the chamber 27 and the chamber 42 is mounted upon suitable rollers 43 which travel upon the supplemental frame 14. In order to guide the rollers 43 in their movement upon the supplemental frame 14, the latter may be of angleiron formation as shown more clearly in Figure 3.

There may be provided angle irons 44 which depend below the chamber 42 which co-operate with the angle irons of the sup- Connected respectively with the porting frame 14 for holding the chamber 452 against lateral displacement with respect to the supplemental frame 14.

Journaled within the chamber 42 are shafts 4546 and these shafts have respecof the material within the chamber 42, and

as the material is advanced therethrough the elements 47 and 48 are preferably arranged in'staggered relation so as to alternately pass the material back and forth fromone set of agitators to the other. The chamber 42 is provided with a discharge outlet opening 49, to which may be con nected a suitable spout 50 for delivering the material upon the road bed.

Motion is imparted to the agitator elements 4748 in any suitable manner preferably from the shaft 36 driven by the motor 33. To that end there may be provided a sprocket wheel 51 secured to the shaft 36 and a sprocket wheel 52 secured to the end of the shaft 46, and which latter projects beyond the end of the chamber 42. A sprocket chain 53 passesover the sprockets 51 and 52, and the sprocket 52 is keyed or splined upon the end of the shaft 46 in. such a manner that the shaft 46 and the sprocket 52 may be moved one with relation to the other in a direction lengthwise of the axis of the shaft 46 so as to permit the chamber 42 to be bodily moved forwardly and backwardly in a direction lengthwise of the chamber, while the sprocket 52 remains in a fixed position so as not to interfere with the (ll'lVlIlg' connection between the shaft 36 and the shaft 46.

The other end of the shaft 46 preferably projects beyond the forward end of the chamber 42 and connected with such end of the shaft for rotation therewith is a gear 54, which meshes with a gear 55 secured to the shaft 45 for rotation therewith. It will thus be seen that when the shaft 36 is rotated its motion will be imparted to the shaft 46 through the chain and sprocket connections 51, 52 and 53 and the motion of the shaft 46 will be imparted to the shaft 45 through the medium of the intermeshing gears 54-55.

It is one of the objects of the present. in vention to maintain the discharge spout 50 as nearly as possible in such a position that when the supporting frame 14 is swung about its pivot 15 the material delivered to .the road bed will be in substantially the same line. That is the end of the work will be substantially straight across'the road bed. In order to accomplish this result, it is necessary that the varying movement caused by the pivotal action of the frame 14 about the pivot 15 shall be compensated by the position of the spout or delivery outlet 50. This is accomplished b causing the chamber 42 to move longitu inally upon the supplemental frame 14 as the latter is swung about its pivot. When the frame 14 is moved in one direction the chamber 42 will move outwardly upon the frame 14 and when the frame 14 is moved in the opposite direction the chamber will move inwardly. The sliding connection between the sprocket wheel 52 and the end of the shaft 46 will permit of such a movement of the chamber 42 without interfering with the driving connection.

Any-suitable means may be provided for thus shifting the chamber 42 upon the frame 14. A suitable and e flicient means for automatically accomplishing this result consists ofa bar or member 56 which extends across the chamber 42 and is spaced thereabove. The member 56 may be supported by suit-- able posts 57 suitably braced as at 58. Carried by the chamber 42 and projecting thereabove preferably by being journaled upon cross members 59--60, are rollers 61-62. These rollers co-operate with the member 56 and move thereagainst. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Figure 2, it will be noted that there is a space between the rollers 61 and 62 somewhat greater than the width of the member 56. As the frame 14 is swung about its pivot from the full line position, the roller 62 will engage the cross member 56 and will cause the chamber 42 to be shifted longitudinally upon the frame 14 until the chamber 42 assumes the positions, according to the direction of movement of the frame, shown in dotted lines inFigure 2. It will be notedv that the dotted line position of these chambers indicate the chamber 42 projected with respect to its full line position shown in Figure 2. From'the dotted line positions,

when the frame 14 is swung about its pivot in the opposite direction to retract the frame 14 back to its normal position, the roller 61 will engage the member 56 and the roller 62 will move out of engagement therewith so that when the frame 14 is swung about its pivot, the roller 61 will travel over the member 56 and draw the chamber 42 back to its normal position upon the supplemental frame 14.

With this construction it will be manifest that thematerial will be delivered throughout the entire area of. the swinging movement of the frame'14.

It will also be manifest that there will be a continuous discharge of the material through thespout 50.

Supported in any suitable manner from the frame 14 is-a hopper 63 for containing the material to be mixed, This hopper is preferably divided by means of partitions sprocket chain 86 passes.

64 and 65 into three chambers 66, 67 and 68. The outlets of these chambers 66, 67 and 68 communicate and discharge into the chamber 27. The chambers are arranged in accordance wlth the proportions of the materials to be supplied, that is to say, thechamber 66 for containing the rock will be larger than the chamber 68 for containing the sand and the chamber 67 will be smaller than the other two chambers, when concrete is being handled. Arranged in the bottom of-each of the chambers 66, 67 and 68 is an endless conveyor 69 having'a plurality of flights 70 projecting thereabove. One of the runs of the conveyor operates within the chamber adjacent its discharge outlet and passes when the element 73 is rotated the blades will successively engage the flights 70 on the conveyor 69 and operate the latter. This will cause the material to be fed uniformly and positively fromthe hopper into the chamber 27.

The rotatable member 73 shown in Figures 4 and 5, is of a size to correspond or properly handle the material to be fed thereby. what different construction is provided for handling the rock from the chamber 66, but operates in the same manner in connection with the corresponding endless flexible member 76 upon which latter the flights 77 are secured. The corresponding element 78 for handling the sand also co-operates with a similar endless conveyor 7 9, having flights 80 thereon. v 1

It will therefore be seen that material will be simultaneously fed from the chambers 66, 67 and 68 into the chamber 27. These chambers and the, outlets thereofbeing so proportioned and the rotatable elements 73,

A rotatable member 75 of a some- 75 and 78 are so proportioned that the with it a sprocket wheel 85 over-which a is secured to the shaft 88 u on which all of the rotatable members 73, 5 and 78 are mounted. r

The material is mixed in a dry condition in the'chamber 27 and is then discharged into the chamber 42, which is a wet mixing AE) sprocket wheel chamber. \Vater may be supplied to the chamber 42 from any suitable source such as a tank 89 through the medium of flexible pipes 90 to supply pipes 91-92 arranged along the walls of the chamber 42 on the inside thereof preferably adjacent the top. Nozzles 93 are connected with the pipes 91 and 92 and these nozzles are controlled by suitable valves 94. The nozzles are pref- F erably directed in the direction of travel of the material in the chamber 42. Obviously by adjusting the valves 94 the proper amount of liquid may be supplied, and these nozzles 93 are located at any suitable or con-- venient point throughout the length of the chamber 42.

It will be noted that the chambers 42 and 9.7 are arranged on an incline so that the chambers incline upwardly from the rear to the forward end.

The object of so arranging these chambers is to retard to a certain extent the advancement of the material through the chambers so that a proper mixture will be insured. A further advantage of arranging the wet mixing chamber 42 at such an angle is to prevent the water, which is delivered into the chamber, from flowing out of the discharge outlet 50 in advance of the material. The water when it is delivered into the chamber 42 through the nozzles will have a tendency to flow by gravity down the incline or in a direction opposed to the advancing movement of the material through the chamber 42. This will prevent the loss of water and will insure a complete and thorough mixing of all of the water with the material.

A suitable platform 95 hinged as at 96 and supported by means-of a brace 97 maybe provided for the operator and located in a convenient position so that access may be had to the hopper 63.

With this improved construction it will be manifest that a compact and com aratively simple apparatus will be pro need which may be readily transported, and it will be further manifest that a thorough and complete mixture of the materials will be produced.

By the use of this machine it is possible to place the apparatus in a position, when used for alley work that the discharge spout 50 will deliver material to the road bed substantially entirely across the road bed as it is swung about its pivot.

While the preferred form of the invention has been herein shown and-described, it is to be understood that various changes may be'made' in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, within the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed as new is 1. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure, a supplemental support mounted thereupon for pivotal movement with respect thereto and in a substantially horizontal plane, two mixin chambers mounted upon the supplementa support one discharging into the other, one of the said chambers being movable with and with respect to' the supplemental support, the last said chamber having a delivery outlet, a combined mixer and conveyor in each of the chambers, and means for bodily moving one of the chambers with respect to the other chamber and with respect to the supplemental support when the latter is moved about its pivot.

2. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure, a supplemental support mounted thereupon for pivotal movement with respect thereto and in a substantially horizontal plane, twomixing chambers mounted upon the supplemental support one discharging into the other, one of the said chambers being movable with and with respect to the supplemental support, the last said chamber having a delivery out-let, a combined mixer and conveyor in each of the chambers, and means operating to automatically project one of the chambers in a direction lengthwise of its axis and with respect to the other chamber and the said supplemental support, when the latter is moved about its pivot.

3. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, two mixing chambers carried thereby, one of said chambers discharging into the other, said other chamber having a delivery outlet, one of the chambers being adapted to be projected in a direction lengthwise of its axis and with respect to the supporting structure and to be retracted when the latter is moved about its pivot, and means for automatically causing such projecting and retracting of the chamber .with respect to the supporting structure.

4. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, two mixing chambers carried thereby, one of said chambers discharg= ing into the other, said other chamber having a delivery outlet, one of the chambers being adapted to be projected in a direction lengthwise of its axis and with respect to the supporting structure and to be retracted when the latter is moved about its pivot, means for automatically causing such projecting and retracting of the chamber with respect to the supporting structure, and means for swinging the said supporting structure about its pivot.

5. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, two mixing chambers carried thereby, one of said chambers discharging into the other, said other chamber having a delivery outlet, one of the chambers being adapted to be projected in a direction lengthwise of its axis and with respest to the supporting structure and to be retracted when the latter is moved about its pivot, and means for automatically causing such projecting and retracting of the. chamber with respect to the supporting structure, the said chambers inclining upwardly from the feeding to the delivery ends thereof.

6. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, two mixing chambers carried thereby, one of said chambers discharging into the other, said other chamber having a delivery outlet, one of the chambers being adapted to be projected in a direction lengthwise of its axis and with respect to the supporting structure and to be retracted when the latter is moved about its pivot, means for automatically causing such pro-. jecting and retracting of the chamber with respect to the supporting structure, and means for delivering water into the last recited chamber, at spaced points throughout the length of the chamber. A

7. An apparatus of the character described including a. supporting structure, means mounting the structure for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, a pair of mixing chambers mounted upon the structure, one of the chambers discharging into the other, means within each of the chambers for mixing the material, one of the chambers being adapted for bodily movement upon the supportingstructure in directions lengthwise of the chamber, means controlled by the movement of the said sup porting structure for causing a bodily movement of one of the chambers upon the supporting structure as the latter is moved about its pivot, and means for moving the said supporting structure about its pivot.

8. An apparatus of the character described including I a supporting structure, means mounting the structure for, pivotal move ment in a substantially horizontal plane, a pair of mixing chambers mounted upon the structure, one of the chambers discharging into the other, opposed series of helicoids in each of the chambers for mixing the material therein, means for driving one of the series of helicoids from the other series, one of the chambers'being-a-dapted for bodily movement upon the supporting structure in directions lengthwise of the chamber, means controlledby the ,movement of the said sup porting structure as the latter is moved about its pivot, and means for moving the said supporting structure about its pivot.

9. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure mounted for movement in 'a substantially horizontal plane, two open chambers supported thereby, one of the chambers discharging into the other, a discharge spout leading from the said other chamber, means in each of the chambers for mixing tie material, a hopper for the materials to be mixed, said hopper having a plurality of compartments each discharging into one of the said chambers, means including an endless traveling element adjacent the outlet of each of the compartments for conveying the material therethrough, flights on the said elements, and rotatable means also adjacent the respective outlets and co-operating with the said endless elements.

10. An apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure mounted for movement in a substantially horizontal plane, two open chambers supported thereby, one of the chambers discharging into the other, a discharge spout leading from the said other chamber, means in each of the chambers for mixing the matethe said flights on the said endless elements I for impartingmotion to the latter.

11. An apparatus of he character described including a supporting structure, two chambers mounted upon th structure, one of the chambers discharging into the other, mixing elements'in each of the chambers for mixing thematerial therein, mechanism for actuatin the mixing elements, said mechanism inclu ing a shaft, an actuating element connected with the shaft for rotation therewith, said shaft and element being 1 relatively movable, one with relation to the other and in directions len thwise of the axis of the shaft, and means or bodily moving one of the said chambers with respect to the said supporting structure, whereby 1 mounted for pivotal movement in a substan- 11 tially horizontal plane, a mixing chamber mounted thereupon for mpvement therewith and for bodily movement with respect. thereporting structure for causing a bodily moveto, mixing means in the chamber, said mixment of one of the chambers upon the suping means including a shaft, a gear keyed ing the said chamber and shaft with respect to the said structure and in directions lengthwise of the axis of the shaft, and' means for holding the said gear against lateral movement when the said chamber and shaft are bodily adjusted.

13. An apparatus of thecharacter described including a supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, a mixing chamber mounted thereupon for movement therewith and with respect thereto in a direction lengthwise of the axis of the cylinder, mixing means in the chamber, a fixed member, and means connected with the said chamber and co-operating with the said fixed member for moving the said chamber bodily and in a lengthwis direction upon the said structure when the latter is moved about its pivot.

14. An apparatus of the character delengthwise of the axis of the chamber, mix ing means in the chamber, a fixed member, means connected with the said chamber and co-operating with the said fixed member for moving the said chamber bodily and in a lengthwise direction upon the said structure when the latter is moved about its pivot, and means for swinging the said supporting structure about its pivot at will.

15. n apparatus of the character described including a supporting structure mounted for pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, a mixing chamber mounted thereupon for movement therewith and with respect thereto in a direction lengthwise of the axis of the chamber, mixing means in the chamber, a fixed member, and rollers connected with the said chamber and adapted to co-operate with the said fixed member for moving the said chamber bodily in a lengthwise direction upon the supporting structure when the latter is moved about its pivot.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification on this 19th day of April, A. D. 1924.

CARL W. HODGSON. 

